BART's Safe & Clean Plan is transforming the rider experience

Train car cleaner Alyssa Barnes mops the floor of a BART car with disinfectant soap and steaming hot water during a train car thorough clean.

 

As the Bay Area’s backbone public transit system, BART is rolling up its sleeves to make sure riders feel safe, to keep our trains cleaner than ever, and to provide the best service yet – from departure to destination. 

 

BART Police Officers

Commitment to Safety & Security

  • Ensuring BART Police are riding trains more, increasing their visibility, and keeping riders safe by doubling officer presence systemwide.
    • Average response time is down to 4 minutes.
    • Increased patrols are yielding results by deterring crime and quickly apprehending perpetrators when incidents occur. 
  • Progressive policing approach uses unarmed Crisis Intervention Specialists, Ambassadors and Fare Inspectors for additional patrols with experts in de-escalation.
    • 7% of calls have been diverted from police to an employee with training in social work.
  • Recruiting for all vacant officer positions and adding 19 additional officer positions once vacancies filled.
  • Making trains even safer by running shorter trains to increase the number of people in each car.
  • Maintaining 4,000+ surveillance cameras to minimize response time and hold suspects accountable.
  • LED lighting installed on platforms and in parking facilities to eliminate dark corners.
  • Conducting welfare checks for the unhoused and enforcing no drug use or smoking. 
New fare gate at West Oakland

Commitment to New Fare Gates

  • Taller, stronger fare gates to deter fare evasion are being installed.
    • Pilot fare gates installed at West Oakland Station.
    • Complete installation of 700+ new fare gates systemwide by the end of 2025.
  • Fare gates added to enclose elevators to further reduce fare evasion.

Commitment to a Clean Ride

  • Doubling the rate of deep cleaning on train cars.
  • Retired all old trains, only new trains are in service.
  • Adding nearly 66% more dedicated crews working to keep stations clean.
  • Staffing restrooms at high-volume stations with attendants to guarantee cleanliness and safety.

Adapting Service to Attract New Riders

  • New train schedule increases emphasis on ridership growth opportunities and relies less on outdated commuting models.
    • Increased service on nights and weekends, eliminates 30-minute wait times. 
    • Improved scheduled transfers. 
    • Service on BART’s busiest weekday line, the Yellow Line, increases trains to every 10 minutes from Pittsburg/Bay Point to get drivers off congested highways 4, 680, & 24.
    • New schedule improves reliability and better serves SFO and OAK.

Canceled trips nearly eliminated.
Increased Clipper START fare discount for low-income riders to 50%.
Offering Clipper BayPass, where employers purchase all-you-can-ride transit passes for employees.

Making it Easy to Explore Attractions Near BART

Family on BART

BART’s General Manager Bob Powers welcomes you back on board: 

“If you haven’t tried BART in the last few months, I encourage you to ditch your car for the day. We’ve made many improvements. From easy app-based payment to new escalators at our busy downtown stations, we’re proud of the improvements we are making every day. Most importantly, we’ve made a commitment to a cleaner, safer ride that guarantees BART remains the safest way to travel.”